"Mechwarrior mechs for use with 28mm" Topic

So I just picked up a bunch of cheap Mechwarrior mechs and am now working out what I want to do with them (assuming I ever get time for tinkering again �� ). My intent is to use them for robotic gun platforms for my 28mm sci fi forces.

Some of the mechs seem perfect for this and will not need much work other than a repaint and rebasing. Others, well-some have what are obviously compartments for tiny human pilots. Yep, I am that anal about it.

So my question to all the converters/scratchbuilders reading (Warlord, I know you're out there!!) is this: how to make these mechs look more suitable for 28mm gaming? More robotic or cyborg like?

My only thought so far is to remove some of the crew cockpits and replace them camera or sensor arrays, i.e. small cylinders and bits of sprue to simulate imaging equipment.

Does anyone else have ideas on how to make these guys more robotic?

For reference, here are links to pics of some of the same types that I am looking to convert:
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Thanks for indulging my pure silliness, guys!

Jason

Oh I thought you meant the large Mechwarrior toys.
The moding of the cockpit is all that looks necessary to me. Then you don't even need to do much, pull the canopy off and paint it's inside to make it look like a cover lens.

I took the diesel engines from some of the hated construction mechs and mounted them on the backs of 3 Commando mechs. I weapon swapped a couple of them as well to make variations. Now I've got three experimental US Army Weird War II robots.

You've got the right idea, just paint over or replace the cockpits.

A few of these have proportions that are such that they could reasonably serve as power armor for a 28mm figure. I am tempted to pry off the cockpits of a few of these and replace them with a 28mm pilot's head.

I definitely see potential for kitbashing these!

On a side note, I only have the real bargain bin ones-commons, I guess. Are any of the more expensive ones substantially larger? Are there any mechs in the series that stand 4 or 5 inches tall?

I don't think there are any that tall. But you're right -- some (like the thicker-bodied ones -- Loki, Rifleman, etc.) would make great exo-suits for 28mm figs.

I've got a number of the chicken-legged mechs that are great 15mm walkers. They look right at home next to my GZG infantry and 15mm vehicles.

Actually I turned a few of the industrial mechs into power loaders aka Aliens.

Its a simple enough conversion using a 25mm torso and head.

Blackhawk1, that sounds awesome. You don't have any pics, do you? Would love to see it.

Have you taken a look at the em4 robots from Combat Zone. Their made for 28mm skirmishes. There are 5 variations.

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See the bottom of the page.

8)

I had a few of these, always thought they would make great 28mm pieces:

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I had the Phalanx and the Raider X, and I'd say they were 1/72 scale??

I suppose it depends entirely on just how anal you want to get. There are some robotic heads available that you could replace the pilot's canopy with but it might not look "natural" enough.

Plenty of "interesting heads" from Pig Iron if you decide to go the "power armour" route.

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BTW, which MW clickie is this one? picture

Not strictly Mech Warrior but 1/200 and 1/100 scale Macross mechs work for me. (Notice the converted Phalanx mechs at the back Mc Wong 73):

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Whiskyrat, it's called a Gambit.

Insomniac, thanks for the pic! Those are very cool-I will have to check out more Macross stuff.

Thanks!

Jason

@Whiskyrat:

The alt-text says "Gambit". Not sure if that helps.

Many thanks Hrothgar and javelin. I will soon be the owner of a small squad of clicky powersuits.

Awesomeness! You will enjoy them. The price for most of the commons can't be beat and they have a very hard sci fi look about them.

Cheers,

Jason

I have some for trade right here:

TMP link

(OK, so they're not the ones shown at the top of the thread…)